Abstract
Legends represent a form of oral folklore expression that not only preserves collective cultural values but also operates effectively as an instrument of social control and an informal educational device in society. In geographically distant regions of the world, narrative similarities centered on supernatural female figures frequently emerge as a cultural response to domestic crises. This study aims to analyze and compare the supernatural legends of Kalong Wewe from Indonesia and La Llorona from Mexico in terms of their legend structure as well as the cultural and social values embedded within both narratives. This qualitative research employs a descriptive-comparative method through a comparative literature framework and Polkinghorne’s narrative analysis applied to textual data gathered from document studies. The results demonstrate that both legends share structural narrative similarities beginning with a domestic crisis marked by betrayal and neglect, followed by a tragic climax involving murder and suicide, and concluding with the transformation of the female protagonist into a supernatural terror figure at symbolically meaningful locations. In terms of cultural and social values, the Kalong Wewe legend emphasizes parental care responsibilities and community vigilance through communal traditions, whereas the La Llorona legend prioritizes children's physical safety near bodies of water at night. This study concludes that supernatural female terror narratives are universally utilized as informal pedagogical instruments, mirrors of collective anxiety, and balances for societal moral order that exhibit high adaptability in the modern media era.
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